The Age of Genomes

A leading geneticist explores what promises to be one of the most transformative advances in health and medicine in history
Almost every week, another exciting headline appears about new advances in the field of genetics. Genetic testing is experiencing the exponential growth once seen with the [...]
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A leading geneticist explores what promises to be one of the most transformative advances in health and medicine in history
Almost every week, another exciting headline appears about new advances in the field of genetics. Genetic testing is experiencing the exponential growth once seen with the Internet, and the plummeting cost of DNA sequencing makes it increasingly accessible for individuals and families.
Dr. Steven M. Lipkin suggests that today s genomics is like the last century s nuclear physics: a powerful tool for good if used correctly, but potentially dangerous in the wrong hands. DNA testing is promising in treating serious disease, but Beijing Genomics, one of the world s largest genomics centers, is quietly developing gene tests to predict intelligence and athletic prowess in prenatal embryo selection. DNA testing could also lead to unnecessary procedures and significantly higher health-care costs. And all too often, sequencing errors diagnose patients with debilitating and fatal genetic diseases.
"The Age of Genomes" immerses readers in stories of real patients on the genomics frontier and explores the transformative potential and dangerous risks of genetic technology. It will inform anxious parents increasingly bombarded by offers of costly new prenatal testing products, and demonstrate how genetic technology, when deployed properly, can prevent or treat genetic disorders such as neurological diseases or cancer. Lipkin explains the science in depth, but in terms a layperson can follow."